Warning light shield



May 30, 1950 J. D. KENNELLY 2,509,438

WARNING LIGHT SHIELD May 30, 1950 J. D. KENNELLY 2,509,438

WARNING LIGHT SHIELD Filed March l2. 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J- D" KENNELLY WARNING LIGHT SHIELD :s sneets sheet 3 Filed March 12. 1948 Patented May 30, 1950 UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFFIcE WARNING uom' smnLn Jeremiah n. xenneuaoak Park, nI. Application March l2, 1948, Serial No. 14,576

s claims. (cI. 24o-46.59)

This invention relates to a warning light shield. The invention is particularly useful in connec- 'tion with light-projecting apparatus used on locomotives, trains, trucks, emergency vehicles. aeroplanes, vessels, and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide lightprojecting apparatus useful for illumination purposes and which is equipped with means for converting the illuminating structure into a warning light. Yet another object is tovprovide a shield or shade structure for use with light-projecting apparatus,` together with power means for drawing the shield into place in front of the light-projecting apparatus so as to signal danger, etc., while at the same time projecting light beams afhead. A still further object is to provide an improved shield structure which may be manipulated with a minimum oi' work and in a very brief time by power mechanism to bring the shield into eil'ective position with light-projecting apparatus. Other specic objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in preferred embodiments, vby the accompanying. drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a broken front view in elevation of apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale; Fig. 3, a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the shield structure in elevated position; Fig. 4, a transverse sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5, a front view inv elevation of a modiiled form of structure embodying my invention; Fig. 6, a vertical sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7, an enlarged detail sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line I of Fig. Fig. 8, an enlarged detail sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 8 of Fig. 5; Fig. 9, a broken 'perspective view of the signal shield apparatus; Fig. 10, a front view in elevation of another shield and light structure embodying my invention; Fig. 11, a vertical sectional. view, the sectionbeing taken as indicated at line II of Fig. 10; Fig. 12, a side view in elevation and partly in section of one oi' the rollers employed, the structure being shown on an enlarged scale; Fig. 13, a side view in elevation of a number of rollers or bars, with a portion thereof being shown in section; and Fig. 14, a perspective view of a coupler connecting the bars.

The invention relates broadly to a source of light, such as, i'or example, a search light, which may be mounted upon a locomotive, aeroplane, emergency vehicle, etc. Associated with the light is a frame structure equipped with a movable iight. It will be understood that a large number of devices may be provided which will form a shield for such use, the shield structure being formed of segments facilitating the removal of the shield and oi' the quick integration of the segments in the forming of the shield. The shield members may be formed of plates of plastic, glass, etc., which are colored red, or any other desired color, and through which the light beams are projected. The shield may be behind the lens or in front oi the lens oi' the light source. The shield members may also be formed of bars or rollers, and of a number of other segmental devilces connected together to i'orm a shield. Further, the shield may be formed of segments which may be lowered or raised in segmental por- I tions, so that the shield may be dropped only partially over the light or all the way over the light source.

In the structure shown in Fig. 1, I0 designates a frame structure within which is mounted the search light II. I'he light II may be equipped with the usual cylindrical border frame I2.

Ahead of the light I I is mounted a frame structure I3 forming, in the illustration given, a compartment I4, a compartment I5, and a compartment I6. Slidably mounted in the compartment I4 is a translucent panel I1; slidably mounted in the compartment I5 is a translucent panel I8; and slidably mounted in the compartment I8 is a translucent panel I9. All of thepanels may be colored red, or any other suitable color. To facilitate the movement of the panels, each is equipped with a border member 20, equipped with a pivot pin 2| extending through a roller 22. The rollers 22 facilitate the travel ci the panels I1, I8 and I9. Panel I8 is provided, at its top, with a horizontal ange 23. Panel I I is provided, at its top, with a horizontal ilange 2l. The ange 24 may also be provided with rearwardly-extending bosses 25 and 26 connected to the flexible elements 21 and 28, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4.

The panel I9 is provided, at its bottom, with a T ilange 29, having one portion extending cutwardly and connected to the exible element 21. Ihe panel I8 is similarly provided, at its bottom, with a T ange 30. 'I'he panel I'I is provided, at its bottom, with an inwardly-extending flange 3i.

'permeable material.

Any suitable means for raising or lowering the panels I1, I3 and I3 may be employed. In the specific illustration given, I provide a power cylinder 32, preferably equipped with a double-acting piston operating a rack 33. The rack 33 meshes with ,pinion 34 mounted on a shaft 35. towhich is ilxed a large gear 36. The gear 36 meshes with the rack 31 equipped with an abutment 38 iixed to the flexible element 21.' The element 21 extends about the pulleys 39, as indicated, and provides connections with the panel I3, so that the panel may be raised and'lowered.

In the operation of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, when the piston of the power cylinder 32 is moved in one direction, the panel I 8 is carried downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2, drawing with it the other panels I8 and I1. When the piston is moved in the opposite direction, the panel I9 is raised, picking up the panel I3, while panel I3 also picks up panel I1, the three panels being raised thus to the position shown in Fig. 3 where they are above the light-projecting unit II.

In the structure shown in Figs. to 9, inclusive, there is supported by a frame -40 in front of the light-projecting unit II but behind the lens 4I of the light-projecting unit I I, a plurality of colored plates or panels 42. The plates 42 may be formed of plastic or glass, or any other suitable light- The plates 42 are equipped with end pieces 43 and 44, pivotally mounted upon the roller shaft 45. Upon the shaft 45 is mounted a roller 46, which rolls upon the U- shaped track 41 provided by the frame 40. The uppermost plate 42 is provided with a pin 48 upon which is mounted a link arm 49. The link arm 49 is connected to the long arm member 50 fixed to the shaft 5I oi.' gear-reducing elements housed within casing 52. The gear-reducing elements are driven by the motor 53. Limit switches 54 and 55 automatically close ofl? the circuit of the motor after the arm 50 has swung to either limit of its movement.

In the operation of the structure shown in Figs. 5 to 9, inclusive, the operation of the motor 53, when rotating in`one direction, is eiective in lowering the plates 42 to the position shown in Fig. 6, in which they form a shield across the light source. If the motor is operated in the opposite direction, the arm 50 is lifted to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, so that the shield formed by means of the plates 42 is removed from its position in front of the light source.

In the structure illustrated in Fig. 10, I employ a plurality of colored rollers 56. The rollers are secured together by coupler members 51, as shown more clearly in Fig. 14 and in Figs. 12 land 13. Each coupler member is provided with openings '58 at opposite ends thereof. The outer ends of the rollers or bars 56 may be reduced to receive a roller 59 engaging the inside ofthe U-shaped track 60. The lowermost roller is equipped with a link 6I, pivotally connected to the long arm 62, and driven by a reducing-gear mechanism and motor, as already described in connection with 4 f Fig. 6. Limit switches 63 and 64 are provided for opening the circuit of the motor when arm 62 reaches either limit of its movement.

When the arm 62 is swung upwardly, the pivotally-connected bars 53 swing to a position above the light source. When the motor is driven in the opposite direction, the bars are swung downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 11, where they lie in front of the source of light and behind the lens 65.

'I'lhe bars 56 are preferably cylindrical so that they may turn in pivotal connection within the openings of the couplers 51, but they may be of other desired shapes.

While, in the foregoing speciilcation, I have set forth specific examples illustrating various types of shields and means for operating the same and in considerable detail, it will be understood that such details of structure may be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

l. In combination, a frame containing a searchlight, a pair of track members mounted within the frame and extending above and in front of the searchlight, the locus of the track members in front of the light being substantially planar, a plurality of translucent members tted Iat their ends with rollers adapted to roll in said track members, links flexibly connecting together adjacent translucent members forming said members into an integrated cluster.' a reversible electric motor mounted within said frame, lever linkage connecting said motor to said cluster operative when the motor is rotated in one direction to move the cluster above the light and out of its beam path and operative when the motor is rotated in the other direction to move the cluster downward in front of the searchlight opening where said cluster will intercept and color the beam, and a pair of limit switches mounted in the frame for engagement by the lever linkage at the respective limits of the clusters movement and connected in circuit with the motor to stop the same and reverse its potential direction of rotation in readiness for thel next cluster-moving operation.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the translucent members are narrow rectangular strips of translucent material mounted edge to edge.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the translucent members are elongated cylindrical rods of translucent material having a substantially circular cross section.

` JEREMIAH D. KENNELLY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this rpatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

